A reckless teen driver was arrested with pills and THC vape pens during a traffic stop near a recreation center in the Villages.
An anonymous caller complained of a silver Toyota Corolla driving recklessly near the Colony Cottage Recreation Center around 10 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. The driver, 19-year-old Nevayez Khaleel Desmornes Whitman of Auburndale, swerved across the road and nearly struck two other vehicles.
The vehicle also had a flat tire on the front driver’s side, and it struck several traffic cones. Another caller saw Desmornes Whitman pull over, get out, stumble and get back into the vehicle. A deputy then drove out to the area and found him sitting in the driver’s seat with the engine still running, the report said.
While speaking with Desmornes Whitman, the deputy noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. He responded in a low tone, making it difficult to understand him, and his eyes appeared only partially open. He ultimately stated that the last time he used marijuana was 10 p.m. the night before, along with another narcotic that he would not elaborate on, the report said.
He went on to say his vehicle was “confusing,” and he was trying to start it because it was malfunctioning. He was unaware that the front tire was flat until another person told him, the report said.
The officer proceeded to search the vehicle with the help of a backup unit. They first found two Xanax pills in the center console, followed by a vape pen with THC oil in a black handbag on the passenger seat. An additional search of Demornes Whitman’s person yielded another vape pen with more THC oil, the report said.
He subsequently agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises, during which he used his hands for balance and did not follow instructions. This led the officer to conclude he was under the influence. He later gave a urine sample, the report said.
Desmornes Whitman was arrested on charges of possession of xanax without a prescription, possession of THC oil and driving under the influence. He was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center and released after posting $4,500 bond.